Play footwear

ABSTRACT

Provided is play footwear having a substantially cylindrical body and a strap. The body has a trough-like depression and first and second end walls having support rings. The trough-like depression have a substantially flat bottom surface and angled sidewalls. The strap has a first portion having a first end fastened to the first end wall and a second portion having a second end fastened to the second end wall. The first portion and the second portion have a fastening means that allows the strap to be adjusted to accommodate various foot sizes when the first portion and the second portion converge.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to play materials for children. More particularly, the invention relates to play footwear for children that is safe and durable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] During playtime children often imagine that they are in far off places, exploring new worlds and the like. Often during these adventures, children will place different sound-producing objects on their feet to simulate the experience. In so doing, children may take a used soda can and crush the side of the can. The child's foot can then fit in the indentation created and the child can walk about with the crushed can underfoot. The can is held in place for a small amount of time, after which the can will fall off the child's foot and become ineffective for the purpose. As soda cans are generally made from relatively thin and lightweight material, the longevity of the can as footwear is severely limited.

[0003] The effectiveness of the soda cans for use as play footwear is also limited by the strength of material. As the cans are thin and as the crushing method employed by children is not well controlled, many cans will simply collapse and be ineffective as play footwear. Also, using soda cans can be dangerous. It is not uncommon for the can to crack, exposing sharp edges which could cut the child.

[0004] It would therefore be advantageous to provide play footwear that a child can wear and use more than once. It would also be beneficial to provide such footwear which can be maintained on the foot for as long as desired and which will not harm the child during use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The invention relates to play footwear having a substantially cylindrical body and an adjustable strap. The body has first and second end walls and a trough-like depression formed therein. The strap has a first end fastened to the first end wall and a second end fastened to the second end wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 is a three dimensional perspective view of the invention.

[0007]FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

[0008]FIG. 3 is an end view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

[0009]FIG. 4 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 with padding.

[0010]FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

[0011] Shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, play footwear 2 has a substantially cylindrical body 30 and a strap 14. The body 30 has an outer surface 46 and first and second end walls 12, 22, respectively. The outer surface 46 has a trough-like depression 4. The trough-like depression 4 has an essentially flat bottom surface 6 and first and second angled sidewalls 8, 10. The first sidewall 8 extends from the outer surface 46 of the body 30 substantially adjacent to the first end wall 12 to the flat bottom surface 6. The second sidewall 22 extends from the outer surface 46 of the body 30 substantially adjacent to the second end wall 22 to the flat bottom surface 6. In the embodiment shown the sidewalls 8, 10 are angled away from the first and second end walls 12, 22 to increase the support given to the flat bottom surface 6. The particular angle of the sidewalls 8 will vary according to the material used and the amount of weight intended to be supported. The flat bottom surface 6 of the trough-like depression 4 and the outer surface 46 of the body 30 at a position substantially opposite from the flat bottom surface 6 are coated with a non-slip material 40 to increase the safety of the footwear 2.

[0012] The first and second end walls 12, 22 are provided on the outer surface 46 of the body 30. The first and second end walls 12, 22 have support rings 18 that extend about the circumference of the first and second end walls 12, 22 to provide extra support and strength to the footwear 2 and an aperture (not shown) for attachment of the strap 14. As best shown in FIG. 2, the first and second end walls 12, 22 are sloped inward toward the aperture (not shown) and proximate the trough-like depression 4. While the configuration of the first and second end walls 12, 22 may vary, in the embodiment shown, the first and second end walls 12, 22 are sloped inward to facilitate the manufacturing process and to maximize the strength of the footwear 2.

[0013] Shown in FIG. 2, ribs 20 are provided about the circumference of the body 30. The ribs 20 are positioned substantially perpendicular to the support rings 18 and extend from the first end wall 12 to the second end wall 28 to further enhance the strength characteristics of the footwear 2.

[0014] In the embodiment shown, the footwear 2 is made from a metal having the desired strength characteristics to support the weight of a child. Although a metal device is shown, the footwear 2 may also be made of various other materials, including plastic and other synthetic materials that have similar strength characteristics.

[0015] Shown in FIGS. 1-3, the strap 14 extends across the trough-like depression 4. The strap 14 has a first portion 24 having a first end 32 and a second end 34, and a second portion 26 having a first end 36 and a second end 38. The first end 32 of the first portion 24 is fastened to the first end wall 12. The first end 36 of the second portion 26 is fastened to the second end wall 22. In the embodiment shown, the first end 32 of the first portion 24 and the first end 36 of the second portion 26 are fastened to the respective end walls 12, 22 by means of rivets 16, but any conventional type of fastening device can be used without detracting from the scope of the invention. The second end 34 of the first portion 24 and the second end 38 of the second portion 26 are provided with a fastening means 28, such as VELCRO or other known means, that allows the strap 14 to be adjusted when the strap 14 is fastened to accommodate various sizes. Although, the strap 14 is shown having two portions 24, 26 that are fastened together by a fastening means, the strap 14 may also be made of two portions that are tied together or one continuos piece of elastic material to obtain a similar result.

[0016] The manufacture of the footwear 2 will now be described in greater detail. During the manufacture of the footwear 2, the body 30 is positioned in a press such that the first and second end walls 12, 22 are positioned substantially perpendicular to a head of the press. The head of the press is lowered to compress a portion of the outer surface 46 of the body 30 to form the trough-like depression 4. The process of forming the trough-like depression 4 is precisely controlled to insure that the trough-like depression 4 and footwear 2 has the strength required to support a child's weight. Therefore, the distance that the outer surface 46 is compressed to form the flat bottom surface 6 and the angles of the sidewalls 8 are able to be controlled by the press and the configuration of the press head.

[0017] The operation of the footwear 2 will now be described in greater detail. In use, a child's foot is placed into the footwear 2 adjacent to the flat bottom surface 6 of the trough-like depression 4. The second end 34 of the first portion 24 of the strap 14 and the second end 38 of the second portion 26 of the strap 14 are converged and fastened to tighten and maintain the footwear 2 on the child's feet. With the strap 14 in a converged position, the child may walk on the footwear 2. For safety, and to better maintain the footwear 2 in place, a non-slip material 40 is added to the flat bottom surface 6 of the trough-like depression 4 and the outer surface 46 of the body 30 at a position where the body 30 contacts the ground.

[0018] Other features may be provided to enhance the appeal of the footwear 2. As shown in FIG. 4, padding 42 may also be included on the bottom surface 6, sidewalls 8, and straps 14 to enhance the child's comfort. Various colors and artwork can be provided on the outside surface 10 to make the footwear 2 more visually attractive. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 5, a sound-producing object 44 can be provided in the interior of the footwear 2, such that as the footwear 2 is moved, the sound-producing object 44 will contact the interior surface of the body 30 to create noise. The sound-producing object 44 can be inserted through the aperture (not shown) in the first or second end wall 12, 22 prior to the fastening of the strap 14 and can be made from various materials and be formed in different configurations to provide the particular noise characteristics desired.

[0019] The foregoing illustrates some of the possibilities for practicing the invention. Many other embodiments are possible within the scope and spirit of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that the scope of the invention is given by the appended claims together with their full range of equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. Play footwear comprising: a substantially cylindrical body having a trough-like depression and first and second end walls; and an adjustable strap having a first end fastened to the first end wall and a second end fastened to the second end wall.
 2. The play footwear of claim 1, wherein the trough-like depression has a substantially flat bottom surface and angled sidewalls.
 3. The play footwear of claim 2, wherein the flat bottom surface is coated with a non-slip material.
 4. The play footwear of claim 1, wherein the first and second end walls have support rings that extend about the circumference of the end walls.
 5. The play footwear of claim 4, further comprising ribs that are positioned between the support rings and extend from the first end wall to the second end wall.
 6. The play footwear of claim 1, wherein the first and second end walls are sloped inward proximate the trough-like depression.
 7. The play footwear of claim 1, wherein the trough-like depression is lined with padding.
 8. The play footwear of claim 1, wherein the first end and the second end are fastened to the respective end walls by a rivot.
 9. The play footwear of claim 1, wherein the body has an outer surface partially coated with a non-slip material.
 10. The play footwear of claim 1, wherein the body contains a sound-producing object that contacts the interior surface of the body to create noise.
 11. Play footwear comprising: a substantially cylindrical body having a trough-like depression and first and second end walls sloped inward proximate the trough-like depression; the first and second end walls having support rings that extend about the circumference of the first and second end walls; the trough-like depression having a substantially flat bottom surface and angled sidewalls; a strap having a first portion having a first end fastened to the first end wall and a second portion having a second end fastened to the second end wall; and the first portion and the second portion having a fastening means that allows the strap to be adjusted to accommodate various sizes when the first portion and the second portion converge.
 12. The play footwear of claim 11, wherein the flat bottom surface is coated with a non-slip material.
 13. The play footwear of claim 11, further comprising ribs that are positioned between the support rings and extend from the first end wall to the second end wall.
 14. The play footwear of claim 11, wherein the trough-like depression is lined with padding.
 15. The play footwear of claim 11, wherein the strap is lined with padding.
 16. The play footwear of claim 11, wherein the fastening means is VELCRO.
 17. The play footwear of claim 11, wherein the first end and the second end are fastened to the respective end walls by a rivot.
 18. The play footwear of claim 11, wherein the body has an outer surface partially coated with a non-slip material.
 19. The play footwear of claim 11, wherein the body contains a sound-producing object that contacts the interior surface of the body to create noise. 